Southern Africa 2014 - Suedliches Afrika 2014: Waterberg Plateau

Waterberg Plateau – Northern Namibia , Oct. 30^th

We leave Windhoek, glad to get going again, and away from the big town. It is approx. a 290km drive, the last 20km on a dirt/gravel road. We create a huge cloud of dust, it has not properly rained in Namibia for 3 years. There is some history here as well. There was a German outpost here (at the foot of Waterberg) and back in 1904, the Herero had had enough of their foreign rulers, and attacked the German officers. Many of them died and are still buried here. Nine month later, the Germans re-grouped, drove the Herero out into the Kalahari desert, refused them access to the local water reserves, and many Herero’s died.

This is how they tell the story, but what exactly happened, we don’t know.

We did not go to Waterberg to look at graves, but to climb the plateau, and enjoy the nature and beautiful views from up top. But first we had to get up top, and the path was a bit of a challenge, as you will see from the picture. Most of the group did not go, but of course you can count on us to get the job done and show you what it was like. Don’t forget, we climbed this thing in over 40 deg. Celsius!!!!

Rosi did well, our new friends Monica and Eugene helped her over the rocks and showed her the best path to take. I came up last, so I could also go at my own pace. Some of you know that I have, as I call it, a bit of a problem with my lungs. Lymphangiolyomiomitosis or LAM for short. I have been walking at lunch all summer, and this is now paying off, as I managed OK. Out of breath, yes, completely soaked from sweating, yes, but I made it up the mountain as well and it felt great!

The plateau just starting to come into view...